Reality shows are tweaking old formulas

"American Idol 5"
"American Idol" has become the show that all other networks fear. FOX's talent competition steamrolls all programming that dares go up against it, and will most likely continue to do so when the show returns in early 2006. Sitting at the judging table will be the same three faces, including Paula Abdul, who was recently cleared in a FOX investigation of any Corey Clark wrongdoing. Casting is currently under way (audition information is at idolonfox.com), and we're sure to see plenty of delusional, awful singers before the next "Idol" emerges to win our hearts and CD dollars.

Premieres January;Tuesdays and Wednesdays, FOX

"The Apprentice: Martha Stewart"
Martha Stewart will make her return to television and to our lives in a spin-off version of "The Apprentice." The show will stick to the template of Donald Trump's version (with Stewart's daughter, Alexis, taking the Carolyn role), but won't be stuck to it. Don't expect to see a boardroom, but also don't expect the cast to be crafting greeting cards printed with ink they made of berries they pick after hiking miles through dense forests. The show's tasks will mirror Martha's many talents (no prison jokes, please). And while she will dismiss people one by one, the show is keeping Martha's catchphrase a secret for now. However, she has said that she won't fire people by saying, "You are not a good thing."

The show will be a test in a number of ways: Can Martha actually host? Will viewers be engaged enough by her to do more than just tune in to the first episode? Does "The Apprentice" format work when it's not fronted by Donald Trump himself? Will the camera crews manage to capture Martha but not her ankle bracelet?

Premieres Sept. 21; airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, NBC

"The Apprentice 4"
NBC's gambling that viewers love "The Apprentice" format so much, they're willing to watch two of them at once. Thus Donald Trump's version will air on Thursdays, with Martha Stewart's version on Wednesdays. This marks the third season of Trump's show that's aired in a calendar year, and decreasing ratings suggest that the series might be suffering from overexposure or just lack of interest. The big change: Donald Trump hand-selected this season's cast, because he said he was unhappy with the third season group. Among those that will compete to work for Trump are the series' first openly gay contestant, a former NFL player, and the former Miss Oregon.

Premieres Sept. 22; airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET, NBC